The State of Samadhi

When the eyes do not move and stare fixedly at one place, whose concentration is this? What causes it, and why does it occur? When the eyes stare fixedly at a particular spot, the visual consciousness is certainly concentrated, and the five sense consciousnesses accompanying it are also concentrated, while the independent consciousness does not arise. If it arises, distraction occurs, which can be described as a restless mind. This concentration results from manas fixing the visual consciousness and mental consciousness upon the place attended to by manas; it is caused by manas attending to this one spot and is the outcome of manas focusing its attention on this single location. Tathagatagarbha gives rise to visual consciousness only to perceive this one place—there is no second or third location. If manas attends to multiple forms, Tathagatagarbha will necessarily give rise to visual consciousness and mental consciousness at multiple locations, causing the visual consciousness to shift restlessly from place to place.

When mental consciousness is deeply focused and dwelling in thought, this is the concentration of the independent consciousness. The eye faculty may be in contact with a certain form, but the visual consciousness and the five accompanying sense consciousnesses do not engage in discernment. This concentration is also facilitated by manas. Manas seeks to understand a question and thus causes mental consciousness to concentrate and dwell in thought, while ignoring all other objects—seeing nothing, hearing nothing, and paying no attention. Therefore, only when manas is focused can the six consciousnesses become concentrated and unmoving, for the six consciousnesses are mobilized and directed by manas.